Does mouth breathing get reduced with CPAP?

[Dave5059]

Hey I was wondering if using CPAP would lower mouth breathing. Many people snore with their mouths opened so does that mean they should be guided towards a full face mask, or does CPAP sometimes help prevent mouth breathing?

[Krelvin]

Depends on the user, the mask, position when you sleep, phase of the moon etc.

I am a mouth breather though many nights I don't for the most part.

I don't bother with the nasal mask because I am comfortable with the ffm and for me, it is easier to deal with.

[BlackSpinner]

I know I do a lot less of it now but gravity still has its effect on my facial structure so I prefer the Hybrid with the chin flap.

[Julie]

Snoring may often be reduced by changing from being a back sleeper to a side sleeper, but whether or not it helps mouth breathing remains to be seen - I wouldn't assume anything without definite proof (not your girlfriend taking a five minute look one day ).

[Dylan]

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[palerider]

The negative pressure of the CPAP causes my tongue to go to the roof of my mouth and block my airway.

"negative pressure"?

are you using the new rare CNAP?

did you ever try breathing in and out through your mouth with your tongue in that position? the air just goes *around* mine.

[Dylan]

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[ChicagoGranny]

the machine forces air down so my lungs expand

Your diaphragm contracts and moves downward to cause your lungs to expand. CPAP splints the airway open.

most of the time it routes back up to my nose

How do you know what is happening when you are sleeping?

[palerider]

What I find with the nasal pillow mask is that the machine forces air down so my lungs expand and it creates negative air pressure in my mouth. I can't even talk with the machine on because my tongue keeps getting sucked up. I'm not sure why the positive pressure from the machine doesn't escape my mouth but it doesn't.

uh, no. no negative pressure, nowhere, nope. if you think about it, what you're saying makes no sense whatsoever.

you can't talk because your epiglottis is blocking your oral cavity... though you COULD talk if you work on it a bit.

[Dylan]

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[Dylan]

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[Sir NoddinOff]

Three years ago when starting CPAP I started using the Swift FX nasal pillows. I didn't have to tape my mouth or use a chinstrap for six months (pure bliss!). It's noteworthy that I generally made myself obnoxious as I bragged about the ease and speed of my adaptation to the nasal masks and CPAP in general. After six months of being a jerk, I started mouth breathing for long periods and from there it was the predictable sequence of testing chinstraps and various taping methods, all culminating in my adoption of a full face mask (FFM). To make a long story short, I think things change and it's bound to happen in this CPAP journey: maybe mouth breathing now then none later, maybe sinusitis and nasal drip, maybe headache come and go. Who knows? The list goes on forever. I wish CPAP was all cut-and-dry, but it isn't, so there's no point to dwell on it? You did ask a good initial question tho. Don't worry about the 'negative pressure' criticism - we know you're not a sleep doctor! Welcome to the forum, in spite of it's rough edges.

[palerider]

I do not know the biology but I can describe the experience that I feel which is relevant to the question of whether CPAP changes if you are a mouth breather. Using a nasal mask, I breathe in from the machine, my lungs fill up. my tongue is sucked to the roof of my mouth. I no longer breathe from my mouth when I sleep and, despite being a lifelong snorer and mouth breather, I can use a nasal mask comfortably.

Would the forum police like to quibble with my grammer now? I was hoping this would be a place of support.

try putting your nasal mask on, turning on the machine, then open your mouth and stick out your tongue.

if your theory of a vacuum is right, then you'll be unable to open your mouth and stick out your tongue.

the *reason* that I'm pointing out the error in your thought is that it would *mislead* other people, because it's wrong.

MANY people have trouble with air leaking from their mouths when using a nasal interface.

I'm glad you don't. but please stop spreading mis-information.

[Sheriff Buford]

To answer the original question... no. A lot of folks try to reduce mouth breathing when starting cpap therapy. I think therapy does nothing but causes attention to mouth breathing. With the volume of air being pumped in, it can make it worse.

Sheriff

[Enchanter]

I'm guessing allergies play a factor in mouth breathing. I do mouth breathe a lot, but usually that is when I'm stuffed up. If I'm not stuffed up, I tend to breathe more through my nose. However, anxiety can play role too, I believe. So I think there are many factors that come to play.